our place
Our distillery is nestled in the bush, down a gravel drive, off a single-lane road in the Reikorangi Valley, Kāpiti Coast, Aotearoa New Zealand.
It’s the place where New Zealand’s trailblazing craft brewery, Tuatara, was born, and there’s still a real sense of something in the air around here. Spiritual, even.
We capture hundreds of thousands of litres of rainwater on site, charcoal-filtering it for the production of our gin. It creates an unmistakably pure taste experience. We distil in a ten-plate still, using local produce wherever we possibly can.
The Kāpiti Coast is known for its long, sweeping sandy beaches and Kāpiti Island, rising from the sea beneath the shadow of the Tararua Ranges. This vast, wild environment is heartland New Zealand. It provides endless inspiration and gives imagination room to run free.
Every sip is a story about flavour, people and place.
our philosophy
Imagination Distilling was founded in 2018 by two good mates, Chris Charteris and Simon Wilson, with a shared belief that great spirits should do more than taste good. They should bring people together, spark conversation, fuel creativity and inspire a little adventure.
Our mission is simple: to create spirits that give people a reason to connect, celebrate and let their imagination run free.
"For us, imagination is about what happens when people come together. A bottle is opened, a drink is poured, and the conversation begins. Ideas are shared, stories are told, plans are made and sometimes something completely unexpected happens. That’s the kind of spirit we want to create — not just something you drink, but something that helps create a moment worth remembering" - Chris Charteris, Co-founder
our awards
At Imagination Distilling, award-winning spirits are at the heart of what we do. Recognised as one of New Zealand’s most awarded distilleries, every spirit in our range has won Gold or higher at a recognised spirits competition, across both domestic and international awards.
Our flagship Reikorangi Triple Distilled Dry Gin has earned six gold medals at prestigious New Zealand and international competitions, while our Triple Distilled Vodka has achieved the ultimate accolade at the World Drinks Awards in London, winning Double Gold and Best Vodka in Country in both 2025 and 2026.
But our awards go beyond the quality of the liquid. In 2023, Imagination Distilling was named Best Manufacturer at the Electra Business Awards, New Zealand’s longest-running business awards, recognising the creativity, innovation and excellence behind our distillery. If you’re searching for an award-winning New Zealand gin, award-winning vodka, or one of New Zealand’s most awarded craft distilleries, Imagination Distilling is a name worth discovering.